r/KerbalControllers

I use T-bars a lot at work and honestly love how they feel, so I thought one would make a really cool throttle for my WIP controller.

The problem is that every T-bar potentiometer/fader I can find online seems to be €100+, which is a bit hard to justify for my first controler.

So I’m wondering:

• Has anyone here tried making one at home?
• Are there any good DIY mechanisms or guides for replicating the feel of a T-bar?
• Any cheaper alternatives that could achieve something similar? (Perferably not just a normal slider or dial)

Would love to hear if anyone’s messed around with this before I go down the rabbit hole trying to build one myself!

Haven’t played the game since I started working on this.
Throttle is a proof of concept, should be cleaned up here soonish. Only have 4 action group buttons as I really use over 3. And the buttons I selected wouldn’t fit 5 wide

Hello I’m just a beginner and I have just started playing and I’m trying to complete this mission but every time I can get the speed and altitude and it still just say I don’t have the rt booster PLEASE HELP

Started in this post: Reddit post

u/xKoney pointed me in the direction of Kerbal Simpit Advanced, and using u/Lets_Space controller as inspiration, thanks to both. Also This guide is helping alot.

General idea:

• Using arduino as "brains".
• Main focus is flight, but req keys for building spacecraft is there (only need this one keyboard + mouse in game).
• Use a keyboard top + bottom frame as base for the controller.
• 3D print a new "plate" for the keyboard.
• All switches is regular keyboard switches.
• Buy components that are tested with arduino and Kerbal Simpit Advanced.
• No on/off 2/3/4 way switches that can complicate things when switching between spacecrafts.

Why the Keychron Q5?

• I own multible keychron keyboards, and very happy with the build quality. I also own a Q5 Pro to measure on. And I own wrist rest for the Q5
• Keychron released CAD drawings of most of thier keyboards, just awesome for DIY'ers, big thanks to r/Keychron Can be fund here: Keychron Github
• I found a good deal on the Q5.

Design

• Control Modes: Space, Docking, EVA and Craft.
• 1 main rotation control joystik + 1 minor control joystik. Final functionality of each pending :)
• For nav in space, i only need 4 keys: RSS on/off, Prograde, Retrograde and Maneuver.
• Action groups incude lights and landing gear.
• LED displays are Periapsis, Apoapsis and speed.

Next step is to play KSP

And log all keys used within ~1 hour. Should help me locate missing functionality.

Please comment if you have build a controller

I might have missed some key functionality.

• Maby missing nav Target for docking?
• Ideas for arrows keys?

Many challanges, but main one is space / volume of keyboard. Might be limitted to arduino nano R4 + MCP23017